Mickey Mouse is in the public domain and Simon Phillips talks to us about how new Horror-Comedy, ‘The Mouse Trap‘ featuring the world renowned rodent.
“Who’s the leader of the club made for killing you and me? S-T-E-A, M-B-O, A-T-W, I-L-L, I-EEEEE.”
Fans of horror and classic animation are in for a treat with the release of ‘The Mouse Trap‘ just in time for Disney’s D23 Expo, taking place in Anaheim, CA this weekend. Originally titled ‘Mickey’s Mouse Trap‘, the film had to undergo a name change to avoid legal challenges, but the thrilling concept remains intact. This groundbreaking project marks the first-ever use of the Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse in a horror context, joining the ranks of other public domain classics like Winnie the Pooh, which has inspired horror films such as ‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey‘ and its sequel.
The buzz around ‘The Mouse Trap‘ has been electric since its teaser trailer launched on January 1, 2024, on Simon Phillips’ personal YouTube account. The trailer quickly went viral, drawing millions of views and sparking widespread excitement.
Director Jamie Bailey is enthusiastic about the film, stating, “‘The Mouse Trap‘ film is famously the first horror film to use the Mickey Mouse character from Steamboat Willie. We just wanted to have fun with it all. I mean, it’s Steamboat Willie’s Mickey Mouse murdering people. It’s ridiculous. We ran with it and had fun doing it, and I think it shows.”
Simon Phillips, who stars as the titular villain and is known for his roles in ‘The Witcher‘ and the Netflix series ‘FUBAR‘, shares his excitement: “We have a childlike excitement to show the world the film! We love the amazing work Walt Disney created here and we love the creative freedom the character coming into public domain provided. Fun. That’s what we had making it and what you will get watching it.”
This film marks the fourth time we’ve had the pleasure of speaking with Simon Phillips, beginning with ‘Stealing Chaplin‘ and most recently discussing ‘FUBAR’. ‘The Mouse Trap‘ was produced by Paul Whitney, Mark Popejoy, Alexander Gausman, and Andrew Agopsowicz, with Mem Ferda of Filmcore serving as Co-Producer.
With its unique premise and playful homage to classic animation along with its tongue-in-cheek horror-comedy styling, ‘The Mouse Trap‘ promises to be a thrilling and entertaining experience that combines nostalgia with a fresh, dark twist.
The film has secured distribution deals with Gravitas Ventures, an Anthem Sports & Entertainment Company, for the United States and Canada. Fans will be able to watch ‘The Mouse Trap‘ on VOD starting August 6th, with DVD and Blu-Ray releases following on August 13th, 2024.
Follow Simon Phillips on X (Formerly Twitter): @siphillips1980.
Follow Simon Phillips on Instagram: @simonphillipsactor.
